Created by Samish Citizen, Rosemary Port, as part of her High School Senior final project. Edited by Gabe Port.

The project discusses the issues facing indigenous culture and what individuals can do to reduce their environmental impact. 

Samish Prepares for Changing Climate

We want our children and their children to be healthy, prosperous, and enjoy our natural resources and cultural traditions. Working together to identify and prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, we can fulfill this promise for future generations.

Since time immemorial, the Samish people have lived and prospered on the land and water of the Salish Sea in Washington State. Over time, the Samish people have successfully navigated a variety of changes while maintaining a strong connection to the resources, rich lands, and waters of our region. While many of us may have moved away, we are still connected to this place and through it, to each other.

Through our strong connection with the natural world, we are beginning to see changes, such as an increase in extreme weather events and in the number of species struggling to survive and adapt. 

As a community, we are beginning to think about how these changes impact our culture and traditions, our community facilities and investments, the natural resources that surround and sustain us. Under direction of the Tribal Council, we have begun a planning process to identify how the Samish can prepare for and strengthen our resilience to extreme weather developments, sea level rise, and other impacts of climate change.  Click here to learn more about the planning process. If you'd like to provide input, click here to take a short survey.